A method for managing radio resources allocated by a radio network controller of a UTRAN radio access network, where the resources support a plurality of service requests identified by a radio access bearer service request sent by the core network and describing the required QoS as a set of RAB parameters defined by mapping with corresponding QoS parameters of the core network, the controller is provided to distribute the resources amongst the bearer services and to modulate the allocation of the resources according to the priority level associated with each of the bearer services, and the priority level is defined by the “priority level” sub-parameter of the “Allocation Retention Priority” RAB parameter, with a value determined by taking into account the value of the “Allocation Retention Priority” QOS parameter of the core network and the value of at least one QoS parameter associated with the type of service.
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1. A method for managing radio resources in a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) mobile communications network comprising a core network and a radio access network for supporting a plurality of service requests sent by user equipment to the core network, each service being specified by parameters of the core network describing a quality of service required for a requested service, said quality of service parameters of the core network including at least an Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter and a quality of service parameter representative of a traffic class associated to the requested service, said method comprising: mapping, by a service node of the core network, said quality of service parameters of the core network with quality of service parameters of the radio access network, said quality of service parameters of the radio access network including the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter having a priority level sub-parameter, and said mapping determining a value of said priority level sub-parameter based on a value of the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter of the core network and a value of said quality of service parameter representative of the traffic class associated to the requested service; sending, by the service node of the network core to the radio access network, a radio access bearer service request comprising said quality of service parameters of the radio access network; defining a priority level for the requested service in the radio access network by the value of the priority level sub-parameter of the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter of the radio access network; and prioritizing allocation of radio resources to determine, on a priority basis, which of a plurality of radio bearer services will be allocated the additional radio resources based on a priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio access bearer services when a plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the network are a subject, respectively, of a request for additional radio resources and when radio resources required to satisfy requests for additional radio resources are available; wherein, when the plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the UMTS mobile communication network do not utilize allocated radio resources in an optimal manner, said step of prioritizing further comprises reducing radio resources allocated to the plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the UMTS mobile communication network that do not utilize the allocated radio resources in an optimal manner, in an order defined by the priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio access bearer services.
In a UMTS mobile network, radio resources are managed by prioritizing service requests from user equipment. Quality of Service (QoS) parameters from the core network, including Allocation/Retention Priority and traffic class, are mapped to corresponding radio access network QoS parameters. The Allocation/Retention Priority in the radio access network includes a priority level sub-parameter determined by the core network's Allocation/Retention Priority and traffic class. The radio access network uses this priority level to allocate radio resources. When resources are limited and multiple services request additional resources, higher priority services are favored. If active services aren't using resources efficiently, the system reduces their allocation based on priority, freeing resources for higher-priority requests.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one quality of service parameter of the radio access network associated with the type of service includes a “Traffic Class” parameter.
The method for radio resource management in a UMTS network, as described above, specifies that the quality of service parameter of the radio access network associated with the type of service includes a "Traffic Class" parameter. This parameter allows the network to differentiate between various types of data traffic (e.g., conversational, streaming, background) when determining resource allocation priorities in addition to the Allocation/Retention Priority parameter.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said at least one quality of service parameter of the radio access network associated with the type of service further includes a Traffic Handling Priority parameter to prioritize interactive-type services in relation to each other.
The method for radio resource management in a UMTS network, that includes the "Traffic Class" parameter, further includes a "Traffic Handling Priority" parameter to prioritize interactive-type services in relation to each other. This enables the network to fine-tune resource allocation for services within the same traffic class based on their relative importance or latency requirements. For example, a real-time gaming application might receive higher priority than a web browsing session, even if both are classified as interactive traffic.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: pre-empting resources at the access network level; when at least one new radio access bearer request is received by the radio access network, and when one of no additional resources are available and if radio resources required to satisfy the quality of service required by the requested service are insufficient.
The method for radio resource management in a UMTS network also includes resource pre-emption at the radio access network level. If a new service request arrives and there are either no available radio resources, or the available resources are insufficient to meet the requested service's quality of service, the network can preempt resources from existing lower-priority services to accommodate the new, higher-priority request. This ensures that critical services can be supported even under constrained resource conditions.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: pre-empting resources at a radio access network level when at least one request for additional radio resources is received to respond to a change in traffic on said UMTS mobile communications network, and when one of no additional radio resources are available and if radio resources required to satisfy the quality of service required by the requested service are insufficient.
The method for radio resource management in a UMTS network includes pre-empting resources at the radio access network level when additional resources are requested due to a change in traffic demand. Specifically, if traffic increases, and the existing resources are insufficient to maintain the quality of service for all active services, the network can preempt resources from lower-priority services to satisfy the needs of higher-priority services that require more bandwidth due to increased traffic.
6. A core network service node of a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) mobile communications network comprising a core network and a radio access network, the core network service node being configured to receive a plurality of service requests sent by user equipment to the core network, each service being specified by parameters of the core network describing a quality of service required for a requested service, said quality of service parameters of the core network including at least an Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter and a quality of service parameter representative of a traffic class associated to the requested service, said service node comprising: means for mapping, by a service node of the core network, said quality of service parameters of the core network with quality of service parameters of the radio access network, said quality of service parameters of the radio access network including the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter having a priority level sub-parameter, and said mapping determining a value of said priority level sub-parameter based on a value of the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter of the core network and a value of said quality of service parameter representative of the traffic class associated to the requested service; means for sending, by the service node of the network core, to the radio access network a radio access bearer service request comprising said quality of service parameters of the radio access network; means for defining a priority level for the requested service in the radio access network by the value of the priority level sub-parameter of the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter of the radio access network; and means for prioritizing allocation of radio resources to determine, on a priority basis, which of a plurality of radio bearer services will be allocated the additional radio resources based on a priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio access bearer services when a plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the network are a subject, respectively, of a request for additional radio resources and when radio resources required to satisfy requests for additional radio resources are available; wherein, when the plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the UMTS mobile communication network do not utilize allocated radio resources in an optimal manner, said means for prioritizing further comprises means for reducing radio resources allocated to the plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the UMTS mobile communication network that do not utilize the allocated radio resources in an optimal manner, in an order defined by the priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio access bearer services.
A core network service node in a UMTS network manages radio resources by prioritizing service requests. It maps core network QoS parameters (Allocation/Retention Priority, traffic class) to radio access network parameters, deriving a priority level sub-parameter. This priority level is sent to the radio access network in a radio access bearer request. The radio access network allocates resources based on this priority. When resources are limited and multiple services request additional resources, higher priority services are favored. If active services aren't using resources efficiently, the service node instructs the radio access network to reduce their allocation based on priority.
7. A radio access network controller (RNC) of a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) mobile communications network comprising a core network and a radio access network, the RNC being configured to receive a plurality of radio access bearer requests sent by the core network in response to a plurality of service requests by users, quality of service parameters of the core network including at least an Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter and a quality of service parameter representative of a traffic class associated to the requested radio access bearer, and quality of service parameters of the radio access network including the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter having a priority level sub-parameter, and a value of said priority level sub-parameter being mapped and based on a value of the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter of the core network and a value of said quality of service parameter representative of the traffic class associated to the requested service, said RNC controller comprising: means for pre-empting radio bearer service resources based on a priority level associated with each radio access bearer service; means for defining a priority level of each radio access bearer service by the value of the priority level sub-parameter of the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter of the radio access network; and means for prioritizing allocation of radio resources to determine, on a priority basis, which of a plurality of radio bearer services will be allocated the additional radio resources based on a priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio access bearer services when a plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the network are a subject, respectively, of a request for additional radio resources and when radio resources required to satisfy requests for additional radio resources are available; wherein, when the plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the UMTS mobile communication network do not utilize allocated radio resources in an optimal manner, said means for prioritizing further comprises means for reducing radio resources allocated to the plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the UMTS mobile communication network that do not utilize the allocated radio resources in an optimal manner, in an order defined by the priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio access bearer services.
A Radio Access Network Controller (RNC) in a UMTS network manages radio resources based on priority levels assigned to radio access bearers. The RNC receives radio access bearer requests from the core network, which include QoS parameters and a priority level sub-parameter derived from the core network's Allocation/Retention Priority and traffic class. The RNC preempts radio bearer service resources based on this priority level. When resources are limited and multiple services request additional resources, the RNC allocates resources based on priority. If active services aren't using resources efficiently, the RNC reduces their allocation based on priority.
8. The access network controller (RNC) of claim 7 , wherein the means for pre-empting radio bearer service resources are implemented when at least one new radio access bearer service request is received, and when one of no additional radio resources are available and if radio resources required to satisfy the quality of service required by a requested service of the plurality of service requests are insufficient.
The Radio Access Network Controller (RNC), as described above, pre-empts radio bearer service resources when a new service request arrives and available radio resources are insufficient to meet the requested service's quality of service requirements. This allows the network to prioritize new, potentially higher-priority requests by taking resources from existing, lower-priority connections.
9. The radio access network controller (RNC) as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the means for pre-empting resources are implemented when at least one request for additional resources is received to respond to a change in traffic on said UMTS mobile communications network, and when one of no additional radio resources are available and if radio resources required to satisfy the quality of service required by a requested service of the plurality of service requests are insufficient.
The Radio Access Network Controller (RNC) pre-empts resources when additional resources are requested due to changes in network traffic. If the existing resources are insufficient to meet the quality of service demands of all services given changing traffic patterns, the RNC can take resources away from lower-priority connections to meet the increased demands of higher-priority services.
10. The radio access network controller (RNC) as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising, when a plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the network are a subject, respectively, of a request for additional radio resources and when the resources required to satisfy said requests for additional radio resources are available, prioritization means for allocation of resources, configured to determine on a priority basis, which of the each radio bearer service will be allocated the additional radio resources based on a priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio bearer services.
The Radio Access Network Controller (RNC) includes prioritization for resource allocation. When multiple active radio access bearer services request additional radio resources, and sufficient resources exist to satisfy all requests, the controller allocates those additional resources based on the priority level of each service. Higher-priority services receive the additional resources before lower-priority services.
11. The radio access network controller (RNC) as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising, when a plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the network do not utilize allocated resources in an optimal manner, means for reducing resources allocated to each of the plurality of radio bearer services in an order defined by a priority level associated with each of said plurality of radio bearer services.
The Radio Access Network Controller (RNC) includes a mechanism for reducing allocated resources. When active radio access bearer services aren't efficiently using their assigned radio resources, the controller reduces their resource allocation in order of priority. Services with the lowest priority will have their resource allocation reduced first, while higher-priority services are affected only if further reductions are necessary.
12. A method for managing radio resources in a universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS) mobile communications network comprising a core network and a radio access network for supporting a plurality of service requests sent by user equipment to the core network, each service being specified by parameters of the core network describing a quality of service required for a requested service, said quality of service parameters of the core network including at least an Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter and a quality of service parameter representative of a type of service associated to the requested service, said method comprising: mapping, by a service node of the core network, said quality of service parameters of the core network with quality of service parameters of the radio access network, said quality of service parameters of the radio access network including the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter having a priority level sub-parameter, and said mapping determining a value of said priority level sub-parameter based on a value of the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter of the core network and a value of said quality of service parameter representative of the type of service associated to the requested service; sending, by the service node of the network core to the radio access network, a radio access bearer service request comprising said quality of service parameters of the radio access network; defining a priority level for the requested service in the radio access network by the value of the priority level sub-parameter of the Allocation/Retention Priority quality of service parameter of the radio access network; prioritizing allocation of radio resources to determine, on a priority basis, which of the plurality of radio bearer services will be allocated the additional radio resources based on a priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio access bearer services when a plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the network are a subject, respectively, of a request for additional radio resources and when radio resources required to satisfy requests for additional radio resources are available; wherein, when the plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the UMTS mobile communication network do not utilize allocated radio resources in an optimal manner, said step of prioritizing further comprises reducing radio resources allocated to the plurality of radio access bearer services already active within the UMTS mobile communication network that do not utilize the allocated radio resources in an optimal manner, in an order defined by the priority level associated with each of the plurality of radio access bearer services.
In a UMTS network, radio resources are managed by prioritizing service requests. Quality of Service (QoS) parameters from the core network, including Allocation/Retention Priority and service type, are mapped to corresponding radio access network QoS parameters. The Allocation/Retention Priority in the radio access network includes a priority level sub-parameter determined by the core network's Allocation/Retention Priority and service type. The radio access network uses this priority level to allocate radio resources. When resources are limited and multiple services request additional resources, higher priority services are favored. If active services aren't using resources efficiently, the system reduces their allocation based on priority, freeing resources for higher-priority requests.
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January 20, 2005
August 13, 2013
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